India, July 12 -- The Maharashtra government will constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe suspected fraud involving thousands of treatment claims and surgeries under the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY), chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Friday.

The SIT, headed by Nashik divisional commissioner Praveen Gedam, will include experts from various departments. The decision follows a scrutiny by the State Health Assurance Society, which detected around 16,000 suspicious treatment claims and surgeries between 2024 and 2026. Of these, nearly 9,500 cases were reported from Nashik district alone.

Five hospitals in Nashik have already been de-empanelled following the alleged irregularities.

The announce...